Speakers

First Lady Sharon Davis
Sharon Davis is dedicated to ensuring that California’s children have a future full of promise and possibilities. For her, that means strengthening education and providing quality health care for our children. She visits schools throughout the state to speak about the important reforms enacted by the Governor and Legislature that have resulted in improved student performance. She spearheads efforts to expand and improve school libraries through her work with the Governor’s Book Fund.

The First Lady serves as the official spokesperson for California’s Healthy Families program, which provides comprehensive health coverage for uninsured children. Over the course of the Administration, she has become involved in a range of other issues, including foster care and mental health.

The issue the First Lady is most passionate about is mentoring. She plays a key role in the Governor’s Mentoring Partnership whose goal is to recruit one million new mentors across the state during the Davis Administration. She has also participated in the national Habitat for Humanity First Ladies Build program.

Rabbi Brad Bloom
Rabbi Brad Bloom of Congregation B’nai Israel was ordained in 1984. Before coming to Sacramento, he served Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills and Sinai Temple in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. Bloom faced his greatest challenge in June 1999, when arson destroyed B’nai Israel’s administrative offices, library and parts of the sanctuary. Bloom and his congregation strive to create unity in the community. “Our congregation’s work in social action and outreach is directed towards diverse ways to reach out to groups both within and without the congregation,” the rabbi stated, “to make our world a better place.”

Secretary Grantland Johnson
Governor Gray Davis appointed Grantland Johnson secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency in January 1999. The agency employs more than 34,000 people and has a combined annual state and federal budget of $61 billion. During the Clinton administration, Johnson was appointed as a regional director for the federal Department of Health and Human Services. He is a former member of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Sacramento City Council. A native of the state capital, Johnson is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento.

Jeff von Kaenel
Jeff von Kaenel is the President and CEO of the News & Review. He has worked with alternative newspapers for over thirty years. Since September 11, 2001, Jeff has spent time getting to know the many religious organizations throughout the Sacramento area while putting together the first and second annual Call for Unity events. The faith groups who participated in last year’s Call for Unity were inspired to build upon Sacramento’s long tradition of interfaith cooperation by creating a new interfaith service endeavor - Building Unity. Jeff serves on the executive board of Building Unity, a coalition of diverse religious organizations, neighborhood groups and Sacramento-area non-profits working to repair seniors’ homes, build new homes, and work with landlords and the City of Sacramento to create better, safer neighborhoods.

Dexter McNamara
Dexter McNamara is the Executive Director of the Interfaith Service Bureau.

Host: Dana Howard
Reporter Dana Howard joined News10 in September, 1992. Howard is a general assignment reporter with a particular expertise in consumer issues. He also works as fill-in anchor. Prior to working for News10, Howard was a reporter for WWL in New Orleans, Louisiana, and for KHSL-TV in Chico, California. He also worked as an assignment editor for KPIX-TV in San Francisco. Howard earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology and Communications from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Originally from Los Angeles, Dana and his family live in Sacramento.

Director: Jackie Schultz
“The gift that A Call For Unity promises is like no other, and I feel very privileged to be a part of this extraordinary event,” says Jackie Schultz, the director for the second year. “The evening presents the exquisite range and depth of multicultural music found in the faith communities of Sacramento, from the traditional to the progressive, presented in many forms, all celebrating spirit. A Call For Unity is a celebration of our community’s strength despite our differences.” Having been a member of the Sacramento arts community for more than 20 years, her company, The Studio Theatre, has worked regularly with numerous school programs, children’s groups, and community-based organizations. “My hope for A Call For Unity is that we see each other for who we are and embrace our sameness and our differences with understanding, brotherhood, compassion and grace. If we can do this, then there is no greater gift we can give or receive.”


More from A Call for Unity

Event Schedule
September 13, 2003 | 8pm | Robert & Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis

Building Unity
A Monument to Public Service

Honoring Dr. Metwalli B. Amer
Recipient of the Building Unity Award for Outstanding Contributions to Interfaith Understanding and Cooperation

Performers
Celebrate the richness and diversity of our community

Proclamation of Call for Unity Week

Thank You
We would like to express our sincerest gratitude, appreciation, and thanks to those who have unselfishly given of themselves and their time to make this evening possible.